Tennis scoring device



Aug. 8, 1939.

R. H. PAUL 2,168,743 TENNIS SCORING DEVICE Filed March 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5/ a 49 OPENING ERVKE COURT RESULTS M'- J. 0-: TEAM mm MAP -HNP;IZ muss I5 lllllllllllllllllll v E BOTTOM TEAM HANDICAP ON INVENTOR." flu? fifia/w @104,

BY: 1 I W i A ORNEY Aug; 8, 1939. RQ PAUL 2,168,743

TENNIS SCORING DEVICE Filed March 23, 1958 Carol Here of Team takmg OPEume Sevvice 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J6 TTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATEE FATENT OFFICE TENNIS SCORING DEVICE Ralph Herbert Paul, Cremorne, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia This invention relates to a scoring device and particularly to a device for registering the scores in the game of lawn tennis, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

In registering a score in the game of lawn tennis from love all position, 15 is called when a side wins its first point; 30 when the side wins its second point, and 40 when the side wins its third point. The scoring is peculiar, however, for when both sides have each won the three points out of the first six Won, the score instead of being called 40 all is called deuce and from th s position, one of the sides has to win two consecutive points before that side wins the game (long game). From a deuce position the winning of an intermediate point by either side is called advantage and should the side with advantage fail to win the next point, the score again returns to deuce. It will be seen that where one side has advantage the other side must win three points at least, to win the game. Should, however, a side win four points, before the other side has won three points, it wins the game (short game) and the position of deuce is not arrived at. In the case of the handicap game, one or both of the sides may owe points, for example, one side may owe 40 against 30, in which case the former side must win three points and the latter side two points, before reaching love position.

Therefore, a game scoring device suitable for registering the scores of lawn tennis must have two scoring members, one for each side, and there must be cooperation between such members at and after the deuce position so that a registering movement to advantage position of either one of the members, reverses the other member to show a blank in the respective window, and in fact, the two scoring members oscillate together between a score of advantage to one side and advantage to the other side. Also a registering movement from advantage to game further reverses the other member, and means must also be provided for a different series of score indications on the scoring members to be displayed when each side has won three points out of the first six won from a love position,

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel and compact scoring device for use by umpires and having means for carrying out the above score registering means.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of my scoring device. Figure 2 is a similar View with the cover and team indicator slide removed.

Figures 3 to 5 illustrate positions of the scoring device at various points of a game.

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a plan view of an element of the scoring device.

Figure 8 is a similar view of a control member of the device.

Figure 9 is a detail of a spring employed in the device.

Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of one of the scoring members.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a pivot pin.

Figure 12 is a plan View of a game scoring disc.

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of a team indicator slide employed with the device.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a base plate l8 centrally of which there is provided an annular recess II, in which a pair of segmental scoring members I2 and 13 are disposed. The scoring members l2-I3 snugly fit within the recess II for rotatable movement therein and lie slightly below the upper face of the base ii), and housed by a cover plate M, the latter having in its lower portion arcuate slots l6 and I6 subtending 10 degrees at the center adapted to register with a multiplicity of apertures ii of the respective scoring members, the apertures also being spaced 10 degrees apart and arranged circumferentially of the scoring members 52-43. The slots ii6 permit insertion of a pointed instrument to engage an aperture ii of a respective scoring member to register the points won by a side. The cover plate l-l also has two concentric slots l8 and :9 arranged in an upper portion thereof positioned on the same radial axis as the siots l5|6, and subtending 50 degrees at the center. These slots permit the insertion of a pointed instrument so as to engage an aperture ii of the scoring members for the setting of the members at the start of a game, by rotating the scoring members in directions reverse to those when registering points.

Each of the scoring members I2 are provided with identical scoring indicia, i. e., Game; avg/nu; 401:; Deuce; N30; 15; ove; and between the love and 15 position and the 15 and 30 position suitably colored blank portions are provided. Below the love position We find notations such as Owe 15; Owe 30;

and Owe 40, and these latter are preferably colored red. (See Fig. 10.) The scoring indicia referred to will be displayed through respective windows 23-2! of the cover plate 14, so as to show the individual score of each side.

Each of the scoring members i2-I3 includes an arcuate rib 22 arranged upon its outer periphery which function as cam members in certain movements of the scoring members, as will be described more fully hereinafter, and each scoring member I2-l3 includes spaced notches 23 about their peripheries cooperable with respective spring detents 24 for maintaining the scoring devices in a set position. If desired, an additional spring detent 25 may be positioned upon the inner periphery of the scoring members, as shown in Figure 2.

Each scoring member [2-43 also has an arcuate slot 26 adjacent their inner peripheries positioned so as to be alined in particular positions of their movements for a purpose presently to be explained.

The formation of the annular recess II in the base provides a central disk portion 2'! in a lower portion of which there is formed a recess 28 housing a bowed leaf-spring 29 cooperable with a bill portion 30 of a slide 3|.

The slide Si is substantially arcuate shaped defined by oppositely extended arms 32-33 adjacent the upper ends of which are provided windows 3435 adapted to register with respective windows 2i2l of the cover Hi. The bill portion 35 is carried by an upwardly extended medial arm 35 and a downwardly oppositely extended arm 31 is also provided. The arm 31 includes an offset portion 38 carrying a pivot pin 39 for mounting of a rocking lever ML The arm 36 includes a detent pin 4! cooperable with the slots 26 when the scoring members i2-l3 are moved to certain positions.

The rocking lever d0 is of arcuate formation, the upper ends of which lie slightly inward of the outer periphery of the recess ll, normally, and each of the levers is provided with rabbeted portions 42 providing shoulders 13 and each end of the'levers is provided with a cam face 52* which cooperate with respective ribs 22 of the scoring members l2l3 when the latter are in certain positions. The rabbet 42 engages the adjacent lower ends of respective scoring members and locks the lever 46 against unrequired movement.

The cover plate it will be suitably recessed as at 43', to accommodate the slide 3| and the rocking lever and the cover plate will also include windows 45 and arcuate slots 45 at upper and lower portions thereof for display of numbers imprinted upon respective rotatable disks 45, representing games won by the teams the slots 45 ex posing suitable circumferentially spaced apertures 47 on the disks whereby to permit rotation thereof. Any suitable detent means may be employed for retaining the disks in a set position such as a spring 48, engaged in a peripheral notch of the disk (see Fig. 2).

Further, the cover plate M includes upper and lower windows 39 and 50 (see Fig. 1), the adjacent vertical edge being cut away as at 5|, and the underside of the cover being suitably recessed to provide a pocket for reception of a score result car 52. The cards 52 will bear all necessary notations as to the games and sets won, handicap, etc., and in the present instance, the top score card 52 will represent opening service side.

As is well understood, during the playing of each set, the teams must change and positions on the court on each occasion when the joint games won are odd in number and in order to register an accurate scoring of games won, means must be provided for registering these changes of position of the teams. Therefore, the cover plate id is provided with a horizontal slot 53 located medially of the cover and adjacent the ends of the slot, respective windows 5d and 55 are formed; and upon the base plate so as to register with the windows 5455 there is printed the word Bottom. A slide bar 56 is arranged within the slot 53 and has printed upon a face thereof the word Top, the word located adjacent the respective ends of the bar, and the bar 56 has formed medially thereof an aperture 57! registering with the slot 53. As may be seen in Figure l, the bar 55 may be shifted from one side to the other by engaging a stylus or pencil in the aperture 51. The printing on the base and the slide bar will be so located as to disclose Top in the window 54 and Bottom in the Window 55, yet the slide may be moved to reverse the showing of the words, which would be done at the time that the teams change positions upon the court, and this identifies the game scoring disk to be actuated.

In use, in a non-handicap game, the scoring members i2 and i3 would be in positions so that the words Love would appear in the windows 20 and 2 l, the scoring member I2 being movable in a counter-clockwise direction and the member 13 in a clockwise direction to indicate the scores of the sides. We will assume that the Top team indicated in the window 54 is the server from the left hand court, and the slide 55 set accordingly, and has scored the first point which will necessitate movement of the scoring member i2 counter-clockwise, and this will be done by engaging a stylus in the aperture dis played through the slot I 5 and pulling downward to lower end of the slot. The next point being won by the bottom team, movement of the scoring member I3 is similarly effected in a clockwise direction, to indicate the numeral 15 in the window 2i. The movement of the scoring members is thus understood and we will now assume that the game has progressed to such extent that the top team has reached a score of 40 as shown in Figure 2 and the bottom team has a score of 30. It will be noted that the score member l2 has thus moved so that its lower end edge lies substantially in the vertical longitudinal axis of the arm 37 of the slide 3|, with the rib 22 engaging the adjacent cam face 42 and this engagement will have caused the lever 35 to rock on its pivot 39 disposing the other end of the lever 58 so as to lie in the path of the rib 22 of the scoring member [3. Now, if the bottom team should score the next point, the scoring member l3 will be moved in clockwise direction and such movement, it will be noted, forcibly moves the rocking lever 40 downwardly, by reason of engagement of the rib 22 and the adjacent cam face of the lever, and the further locked engagement of the opposite end of the lever with the rib 22 of the scoring member I 2. In this position, the scoring members l2l3 will occupy positions in the lower recess II, with their ends abutting, the arcuate slots 26 alined and the pin 49 in alinement with the slots; and the slide 3| drawn downwardly, compressing the spring 29. (See Fig. 5). The ends of the scoring members are in abutting relation and the downward movement of the slide 3! brings the windows 34 and 35 so as to cover the upper half and open up the lower half of the sight windows and 2| in the cover plate I4, thereby displaying another series of score indications on the scoring members l2 and 13. It is necessary that this lower position should be maintained until the finish of the game. The score would be even and the scoring members would display DeuceDeuce. Suppose now, the bottom team should win the next point. Clockwise movement of the member I3 would be effected with a stylus and since the end of the scoring member is in abutting engagement with the adjacent end of the member I2 anticlockwise movement of the scoring member i2 will be effected, disclosing a blank colored portion in the window 20 and display of Van in the window 2i, the slide'3l still being held in its lower position by reason of engagement of the pin 4! in the slot in the member l3. The next point again being won by the bottom team, the member i3 is again moved and the word Game appears in the window 2|. The game is registered on the lower score dial 48, as indicated by the slide member 56.

After a game has been won, the scoring members l2 and i3 are returned to their desired positions by inserting a stylus through respective slots I8 and I9 so as to engage an aperture of the scoring members, and moving them in reverse directions to those used when scoring points.

In the case of a handicap game, the team giving the handicap would have its scoring member set in the slot 18 or l9 as the case may be, to indicate the handicap, such as Owe 15; Owe in the respective wind-ow 21! or 2i.

It will be obvious that when the scoring members oscillate from advantage on one side to advantage to the other side, the rocking lever it will be rocked alternately by the scoring members l2-l3 owing to engagement with respective ribs 22.

t should be seen that at a deuce score the rabbeted portions 43 of the rocking lever contacting the ribs 22 of respective scoring members will prevent the return of the slide St to its normal position. It will be further seen that at the score of advantage owing to one of the scoring members having been pushed backward one end of the rocking levers is free of engagement with the rib 22, allowing rocking movement of the lever 46, thereby releasing the locking of the slide 3 l. The slide however, owing to the pin 39 having engaged in one of the slots 26 of the progressed scoring member holds the slide 31 in its required downward position taking up the duty of the previously locked rocking lever. Should the score revert to deuce the rocking lever again becomes locked and performs its required function in place of the pin.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the slide 3! only comes into operation at the time that the scoring members i2--l3 are about to contact (see Fig. 2), to effect downward sliding movement of the slide, and this downward movement of the slide windows has the same effect as the partial rotation of the scoring members, away from each other, which is essential in order to bring into operation a different series of score indicated and the score deuce-deuce rather than emand also the scores of van and game, afterwards.

It should be noted that the inner lower ends of the scoring members l2 and I3 are slightly out back as at !2 which when they are brought into end abutting relation provide an entrance slot for the pin 4 I, and in order that re-setting movement units movably mounted beneath the face plate 7 and having scoring indicia thereon for display at certain of said sight openings, a slide member cooperable with the scoring units in their various positions of movement, and said slide having windows for registry with the sight openings.

2. A tennis scoring device comprising a face plate provided with sight openings, point scoring units movably mounted beneath the face plate and having scoring indicia thereon for display at certain of said sight openings, a slide member cooperable with the scoring units in their various positions of movement, said slide member having windows for registry with the sight openings of the face plate, and means between the scoring units and the slide for maintaining the windows of the slide in registry with the sight openings.

3. A tennis scoring device comprising a face plate provided with sight openings, point scoring members movably mounted beneath the face plate F and having indicia thereon for display at the sight openings, a slide member interposed be tween the scoring members and the back wall of the face plate, said slide having windows for registry with respective sight openings of the face plate, means between respective scoring members and the slide member for registering a lower portion of the windows of the slide with sight openings when the score attained is deuce, and said scoring members having means cooperable with the slide member for maintaining the windows and sight openings in registry.

4. A tennis scoring device comprising a base plate having an annular recess, a pair of annular segmental scoring members slidably disposed therein, each scoring member having scoring indicia thereon, a slide member disposed above the scoring members, a face plate having sight openings for display of scoring indicia of the scoring members, said slide having windows for registry with a lower portion of the sight openings when said scoring members have been moved to a deuce position and means between the slide and scoring members for retaining the slide in lowered position until released by resetting of the score members.

5. A tennis scoring device comprising a base plate having an annular recess, a pair of annular segmental scoring members slidably disposed therein, each scoring member having score indicia thereon, a slide member disposed above the scoring members, the slide having oppositely extended arms, each arm having a window aligned with the score indicia of the scoring members, a face plate having sight openings for display of scoring indicia of the scoring members, an arouate rocking lever pivoted to the slide member, the ends of the lever having cam contact with the scoring members, whereby further sliding movement of one of the scoring members will cause said lever to rock to dispose an end of the lever into the path of the other scoring member, movement of the latter scoring member effecting downward movement of the slide for registry of a lower portion of the windows and sight openings when the game has progressed to a deuce position, and means between the slide and scoring members for retaining the slide in lowered position until released by resetting movement of the scoring members.

6. A tennis scoring device comprising a base plate having an annular recess, a pair of annular segmental scoring members circumferentially slidable therein, each scoring member having score indicia thereon, a face plate having sight openings for display of the score indicia, a slide member between the scoring members and the face plate, the slide having windows for registry with the sight openings, springs means for holding the slide in uppermost position, means between the slide and scoring members for retracting the slide when the score attained is at and after a deuce position, and detent means for holding the slide retracted until released by resetting of the scoring members.

'7. A tennis scoring device comprising a base plate having an annular recess, a pair of annular segmental scoring members slidably disposed therein, each scoring member having score indicia thereon, a face plate having sight openings for display of the score indicia, a slide member between the scoring members and the face plate, the slide having windows of a depth approximately one-half that of the sight openings for alternate registry with the upper and lower portions of the sight openings, spring means for holding the slide in uppermost position, means between the slide and scoring members for retracting the slide when the score attained is at and after a deuce position, each scoring member having a slot opening upon its advance end and adapted to register at and after a deuce position, a pin on the slide positioned to enter either slot for holding the slide retracted until released by re-setting of the scoring members.

8. A tennis scoring device comprising a base plate having an annular recess, a pair of annular segmental scoring members slidably disposed therein, each scoring member having score indicia thereon and spaced apertures adjacent their outer peripheries, each scoring member further having spaced peripheral notches, a toothed spring member complemental to the notches of each score member, a face plate having sight openings for display of the score indicia, said face plate further having arcuate slots for registry with the apertures of the scoring members, a slide member disposed between the scoring members and the face plate, said slide having arms apertured to provide windows, said windows being of a depth approximately one-half of the sight openings, registered with the upper and lower portions of the sight openings, the slide further having medial upward and downward extensions, the upward extension having a bill portion, a leaf spring beneath the bill for holding the slide in uppermost position, an arcuate shaped lever rockably pivoted to the downward extension of the slide, the ends of the lever having cam faces, the inner edges of the lever having cut away portions defining a shoulder, a right angularly disposed rib on each score member, said ribs being complemental to the cam face and shoulder of respective ends of the lever whereby to rock the lever into the path of one of the scoring members, movement of the latter scoring member to a deuce position retracting the slide against the action of the spring, and detent means between the slide and the scoring members for holding the slide retracted until released by movement of the scoring members to re-set positions.

9. A tennis scoring device comprising a base plate having an annular recess, a pair of annular segmental scoring members slidably disposed therein, each scoring member having score indicia thereon and spaced apertures adjacent their outer peripheries each scoring member further having spaced peripheral notches, a toothed spring member complemental to the notches of each score member, a face plate having sight openings for display of the score indicia, said face plate further having arcuate slots for registry with the apertures of the scoring members, a slide member disposed between the scoring members and the face plate, said slide having arms apertured to provide windows, said windows being of a depth approximately one-half of the sight openings registered with the upper and lower portions of the sight openings, the slide further having medial upward and downward extensions, the upward extension having a bill portion, a leaf spring beneath the bill for holding the slide in uppermost position, an arcuate shaped lever rockably pivoted to the downward extension of the slide, the ends of the lever having cam faces, the inner edge of the lever having cut away portions defining a right-angularly disposed rib on each score member, said ribs being complemental to the cam face and shoulder of respective ends of the lever whereby to rock the lever into the path of the scoring members, movement of the scoring members to a deuce position retracting the slide against the action of the spring, each of said scoring members having an arcuate slot in its advancing end and adapted to register before and after deuce position of the scoring members, and a pin in the slide positioned to engage within the slots upon further movement of the scoring members from deuce position.

10. A tennis scoring device comprising a base plate having an annular recess, a pair of annular segmental scoring members slidably disposed therein, each scoring member having scoring indicia thereon, a slide member disposed above the scoring members, a face plate having sight openings for display of scoring indicia of the scoring members, said slide having windows for registry with a lower portion of the sight opening when said scoring members have been moved to bring adjacent ends into abutting relation whereby further forward movement of one of the scoring members will effect rearward movement of the other scoring member, and means between the slide and scoring members for retaining the slide in lowered position until released by a resetting of the score members.

RALPH HERBERT PAUL. 

